From late November to early March is the best time to visit the world heritage village of Shirakawago, from when the thatched-roof houses are adorned with yellow leaves until they get covered in white snow. Located in Gifu Prefecture in central Japan, Shirakawago village is a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof houses. The village has been conserved to preserve its unique architecture and maintain its traditional culture and lifestyle. Not too famous for cherry blossom season or summer, Shirakawago boasts a romantic scene in the fall, from the end of November when the leaves begin to turn yellow. This is also a destination that tourists can visit when the winter begins. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) in Vietnam, Shirakawago village follows a sustainable tourism development model based on three main aspects: environment, culture, and economy. The village maintains a peaceful living space by limiting the intrusion of industrialization and urban development while also preserving natural beauty and local culture. Local residents participate directly in the tourism industry, providing accommodation services like homestays, tour guides, and organizing traditional cultural events.
The village has measures to protect the natural environment, such as limiting the number of visitors, managing waste, and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly means of transportation. This model creates a balance between conservation and development, ensuring that tourism does not harm the cultural and natural resources of the village. After the autumn that lasts less than a month, Shirakawago will be covered in white snow from the end of December. Many tourists say that Shirakawago is like a fairy tale when it is covered with white snow. The Shirakawago Light-up Festival usually takes place on Sundays and holidays from January to February every year. During this festival, traditional gassho-zukuri houses are lit up after dark, usually from around 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The whole village becomes sparkling, reflecting light on the white snow, creating a poetic and magical scene. This is one of the most important and anticipated events in Shirakawago, attracting a large number of tourists to visit and take photos. Shirakawago also experienced overcrowding of tourists in January and February, affecting the lives of local people and reducing the value of the tourist experience. However, since pursuing a sustainable tourism model, this situation has improved.The ancient houses in Shirakawago are now almost uninhabited, but they are preserved and lit up on certain days during the festival season. The houses in Shirakawago village are covered in white snow in winter.One of the village's famous places is the three traditional thatched-roof houses next to each other, where many tourists come to take photos. This place was once the inspiration for manga artist Fujiko F. Fujio, and the traditional gassho-zukuri straw roofs appeared in the episode "The Mystery of Takai Valley" of the Doraemon manga series.In Shirakawago village, there is a traditional Kyoshu coffee shop open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors can sit by the window to enjoy a steaming cup of hot coffee and admire the white snow scene outside. According to JNTO's statistics on visitors to Japan, about 490,000 Vietnamese people came to Japan from January to October this year, an increase of 16% over the same period in 2019. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, JNTO expects the number of Vietnamese visitors to Japan this year to exceed the record level of 2019 (more than 495,000 people) and reach more than 500,000 people for the first time. Cre: Nick M.